Wasted Kisses
Prince Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Chorus:
Why did I waste my kisses on u, baby?
Why did I waste my kisses on u now?
Why did I waste my kisses on u, baby?
Why did I waste my kisses on u now?

Overdue ¨c that's how I described the hour
The minute, the moment that I first laid eyes on u
I guess I knew that sooner or later this power
Would manifest itself into a rendezvous

Small dark room ¨c that's where I let u smother
In front of your [gut, tell another]
Why should I care?


Cheap perfume all over those burgundy stockings
The ones I tied u up with
I shoulda just left 'em there (shoulda just left 'em there)
Why'd I waste my kisses on u?

Why did I waste my kisses on u, baby?

Chorus

Why'd I waste my kisses on u, baby? (on u)
Why did I waste my kisses on u now?




Why'd I waste my kisses on u, baby? (on u)
Why did I waste my kisses on u now?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Prince's song Wasted Kisses convey a sense of regret over a past romantic encounter. The singer is asking himself why he wasted his kisses on the person he is addressing in the song. The chorus repeats the question over and over, highlighting his confusion and frustration.


The verse describes the circumstances of this encounter, painting a picture of a small dark room where the two people were alone together. The singer admits to letting the other person "smother" him, implying that he allowed himself to be consumed by their physical attraction. He also mentions the presence of cheap perfume on the other person's burgundy stockings, indicating that this was not a high-class or romantic encounter. The singer wishes he had not wasted his kisses on this person, suggesting that he would rather have saved them for someone he truly cared for.


The lyrics of the song convey a sense of remorse and existential questioning. The singer seems to be reflecting on the choices he has made in his life and wondering if he has wasted his time and energy on meaningless pursuits. The repetition of the chorus reinforces this sense of confusion and introspection. Overall, Wasted Kisses is a poignant and revealing song that offers insight into Prince's inner emotional life.


Line by Line Meaning

Why did I waste my kisses on u, baby?
Questioning why he gave his affections to someone who didn't appreciate them


Why did I waste my kisses on u now?
Regretting the time and effort he spent on a relationship that didn't last


Overdue ¨c that's how I described the hour
The moment he met this person felt long awaited and overdue


The minute, the moment that I first laid eyes on u
The exact instant that he fell for this person


I guess I knew that sooner or later this power
He recognized the intensity of his feelings and knew they would take over


Would manifest itself into a rendezvous
His strong attraction to this person led to a physical encounter


Small dark room ¨c that's where I let u smother
A place where he allowed this person to dominate him or take control


In front of your [gut, tell another]
The lyrics are unclear, but it could suggest that the artist was humiliated or embarrassed by this person


Why should I care?
He is questioning why he should care about this relationship or its outcome


Cheap perfume all over those burgundy stockings
A strong memory he has of this person and the sexual encounter they shared


The ones I tied u up with
A reference to bondage or a kinky sexual experience


I shoulda just left 'em there (shoulda just left 'em there)
The artist regrets any involvement with this person and wishes he never met them


Why'd I waste my kisses on u?
Reiterating the regret he feels for giving his all to someone who didn't deserve it


Why'd I waste my kisses on u, baby? (on u)
Asking again why he gave so much of himself to someone who didn't appreciate him


Why did I waste my kisses on u now?
Wondering why he continues to think about this person despite the pain they caused him


Why'd I waste my kisses on u, baby? (on u)
Another plea for answers about why he ever got involved with this person




Contributed by Xavier M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

ERNEST SMOTHERS

Am i ever going to hear all of Prince's music? it seems that there is always one or 10 more and this one's a gem.

johnny pelotas

Prince has enough unheard music to last several lifetimes… no one will ever hear it all…. I reference the second movie graffiti bridges were the lyrics of songs not made popular until years later can be scene in the background… “he had the past, present, and the future” in the vault.

Carlagene Arter

His voice, the music! Sitting here with it cranked up and enjoying. Only thing wrong is its too short

Elijah&Isiah

Definitely

Christophe Schuver

Masterpiece 💜

Perry Malone

I remember this being song number 98 on the cd it was mad bizarre my dad and I found it on accident

Suge and Pops daily adventures

@Timothy Stelly hell I just found it today! Man this was my guy....I wanted to talk to every girl I met from his lyrics and made a couple kids to his ballads

Antonio al'ghul

Me too and it's the best song on the album.

pilar vicente

Hehe on my cd number 49!!!🤣🤣🤣

Timothy Stelly

Me too, only I found it 12 years later! Great piece of work.

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